An artist's impression of how Shepherd's Bush Market will look after redevelopment

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The redevelopment of Shepherd’s Bush Market has taken a u-turn after the Government’s planning minister gave it the green light.

Developers Orion and Development Securities can now press ahead with a £150 million revamp of the 100-year-old market and build 200 new flats.

The decision to give the go-ahead was made by housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis MP on Friday (October 10) despite the Government’s planning inspector, Ava Wood, recommending in February to reject the compulsory planning order which is needed to buy out the market stalls, Goldhawk Road shops, three hostels and an electricity sub station.

Shopkeepers and stall holders have been fighting a two-year campaign to preserve their shops and businesses as many feel they will be ousted by the development and, backed up by Ms Wood, the guarantees and safeguards from the developers are not sufficiently robust to assure they would be able to continue trading. However Orion has said they can continue trading.

Fruit and veg stall holder John Fletcher works with his son Sam, who is the fourth generation to work there over 56 years.

John said: “We’ve been told we’ll get a new stall but further back in the market. We currently have a great spot right on Goldhawk Road and we’ve had no written guarantees so we’ve been in limbo for the past two years, not knowing whether to redecorate or not. We can’t employ anybody else and can’t sell because everybody knows we’re going to be moved on.”

Fourth generation: John and Sam Fletcher have 'been in limbo for two years' and still have no written guarantees

The inspector felt there was a real risk a newly developed market and shops would not provide the ethnic diversity or opportunities for small businesses which make up the area, but Mr Lewis claimed it would.

He said: “We want to ensure this landmark feature survives for 100 more years. It has the potential to bring substantial economic, retail and social benefits to the area with a regeneration scheme safeguarding the distinctive identity of this iconic market.

“Regeneration will enable it to continue to provide a diverse range of stalls to meet their needs as well as improving the appeal for new visitors and shoppers alike.”

Andy Slaughter, Labour Hammersmith MP, attacked the previous Conservative council for pushing through the planning permission, especially without any affordable housing.

He said: “I hoped we had seen an end to the bias in favour of developers and away from residents and small business when the Tories lost control of the council in May but now we have the Government stepping in to tip the scales. We will now see what further legal challenge can be brought against this disgraceful political interference.”

Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter, market stall holder Sam Fletcher and Shepherd's Bush ward councillor, Natalia Perez Shepherd, who is concerned current stall holders will not be able to afford new rents

Richard Olsen, chairman of Orion, said they are extremely pleased with the decision as it ‘paves the way for the modernisation of the market to ensure it remains a vibrant centre for the area which local people can be proud of’.

Charlie Dewhirst, the 2015 Hammersmith parliamentary candidate, defended the decision and said it will create jobs and opportunities as well as much-needed new homes, but added: “I will also be holding the council and the developer to account on their plans to temporarily relocate existing stall holders and shopkeepers while the regeneration project is taking place.”